Burial casket



J. N. MCCONNELL Nav. s, 1927.

BURIAL GASKET Filed March 25, 1926 patented Nov. 3,

JAMns n. Meccanismi, or Urrnn sanousn'v, csiro.

sumanY Cessna'.

` Application` ined aaargh 2s, ieee. serial No. 97,379.'

This invention relates to improvements .in burial caslets or couches,A and has for its principal object the provision ot a caslet or couch formed with novel features by which the interior ot the casket or couch when on display is adequately and tastefully illuminated so as to clearly disclose the contents thereoi.

Another object ot the invention resides 1n the provision ot a burial casket or couch wherein the illuniinating devices are mounted upon a swinging support-ing frame carried in connection with the lid or cover section of the casket, the object in view being to permit oi the adjustn'ient or" said 'traine so that the latter will assume positions governing directly the degree oit illumination which said devices are capable ot casting upon thel interior ot the casket, whereby a control is provided to modulate the intensity of the light, when desired, to produce more artistic and beautiful eiiects.

TFor a Yfurther understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: V

Figure l is a front elevation ot a burial casket or couch provided with the improved illuminating` means comprising the present invention, the cover section ot the casket being shown in an elevated position,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the couch or casket on the plane indicated by the line 2 2' of Figure l, there being shown in dotted lines one ot the adjusted positions ot the illuininoting devices. t

In accordance with the present Invention there is provided a burial casket l which, :es it will be understood, may be termed trom :inv desired materials or in anyV one et the nninv diiierent designs in which articles ot' this 'kind are made.V At present, the casket is in the form. of a full couch, although it may be in the itorin of a semi-couch, it' desired, without departing from the principles of the invention. As shown. the casket consists ot a body section 2, which is constructed to include vertical side and end walls 3 and a bottom Ll. Hinged to the upper rear edge of the body section is a lid or cover section 5, capable of being swung to assume an open position, as shown vin Figure 2, to render the interior of the body section accessible. The sections 2 and 5 are of course suitably decorated and finished in yany desired manner vto present va pleasing appearance. rlihe cover section inf'this in-` stance is formed with a swinging lid 6, aS-

shown in Figure 2, and likewise the body sect-ion is provided, along the front wall thereof, with a. hinged panel 7, which may be raised or lowered as desired. ilVhen these parts are positioned as indicated in Figure 2, the casket is open for convenient and adequatc display, permitting of the placing ot iiowers, and other funeral einblenis anddecorations on and around the casket to enhance its appearance.

in accordance with the present invention the cover section 5 is provided with a support 8 which is pivotcd-as at 9 upon said cover section so as to be capable of swinging through an arc ot substantially ninety de#r grees. 'lhis support is adapted to carry tittings yi0 tor the reception of electric incandescent lamps 1l. The pivotal connec-y tions l2, between the support 8 andr the cover section 5 includes springs 13 which exercise a pressure on said support to maintain the latter stationary in any one of its adjusted positions throughout its entire are ot swinging movement. Y

lt will be seen by reference to Figure 2 that when the support occupies a full line position shown in this ligure, the lamps ll will be positioned directly over the body section 2 so as to provide maximum illumination for said body section and also the iid 6. It it is desired to diminish this maximum degree ot illumination the suppe-rt is swung downwardly, thereby removing the i lun'iinating elements 'troni the zone of the body section and reducing the de; te oi illun'iination oif the body section. The cody section is prefervably provided with ordinary dry batteries lit which are emptoycd to energize the lamps ll, although ordinary house current niay be employed for this purpose when available.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a means for illuminating a casket by which the contents ol the latter may be artisticall f and attractively illuminated without offending the ethics of good vtaste under circumstances where the invention is employed. By the provision of the swinging support therefor, the illumination which the lamps give may be varied and controlled to suit the peculiar requirements of each particular display.

What is claimed is:

l. In a burial casket, a body section, a

cover section hinged to said body section and 'formed to inclu-do an open sided frame structure, a lid hinged along its lowei` edge to said frame structure, a support pivotelly mounted Within said 'frame structure, an incandesoent lamp carried by said support, and means operating to maintain said support in adjusted positions relative to said freine structure.

2. In L burial casket, a body section, a cover 'for said body including tWo sections, one being an open frame structure hinged to the body section, the other a lid hinged to the frame structure, means foi' maintaining the frame structure in zt vertical position and the lid in an angular position to the body section, a support piyotally mounted Within the frame structure an incandescent lamp Carried by seid support, and means operating to maint-ain said .support in :Ld- 20 justed angular positions Tela-tive to said iframe structure.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES N. MGCONNELL. 

